Die Fledermaus

Abigail Kelly playing Adele in a pub

Abigail Kelly playing Adele in a pub

Ever had too much to drink on a night out?

Ever had your friends film your idiotic behaviour – superhero costume and all – and then put it on YouTube?

Follow Falke’s attempt to get back at his mate Eisenstein after one too many in this contemporary re-imagining of Johann Strauss’s classic Die Fledermaus.

 

Die Fledermaus Arcola Theatre

Claire Wild as Rosalinde & David Horton as Eisenstein at Arcola Theatre

Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus (‘The Bat’ or Bat Man!) is a hugely fun, often silly story with some brilliant characters and very catchy tunes. Our new production was re-imagined for London life today,  cut to approximately an hour, and with a new modern English libretto by Baseless Fabric Artistic Director Joanna Turner, and with the music re-written for violin, accordion and bassoon by Leo Geyer. Though originally created with London high streets in mind, we also re-imagined it again for the Arcola Theatre to be part of their prestigious Grimeborn Opera Festival. 

James McOran-Campbell playing Falke in a Community Centre in Pollards Hill

This production followed on from the success of our two previous street operas Drifting Dragons (which we also took to Grimeborn in 2016) and Cosi Fan Tutte (OffWestEnd Award Finalist for Best Opera Production). As with those productions we also had an extensive outreach programme for Die Fledermaus for young people and the elderly.

 

Reviews

The ensemble is met with an audience stomping their feet and shouting for an encore, and I wish we’d got one- , A Younger Theatre
Baseless Fabric Theatre’s production of Die Fledermaus at the Arcola Theatre proves to be the most charming introduction to opera, full of unpretentious laughs and masterful musicians.- , A Younger Theatre
The laughs come thick and fast; the score is cleverly conveyed by bassoon, violin and accordion (arranged by bassoonist Leo Geyer); and the singing is glorious.- , Theatre Cat
Hadjilouca’s design stands back and lets the piece flow, the ideal backdrop for Joanna Turner’s skilfully choreographed, high-energy direction- , Theatre Cat
Joanna Turner’s lean, entertaining production- , Theatre Cat
An operetta that, in the wrong hands, can outstay its welcome was over too soon.- , The Guardian
[the cast] were assured and witty, both musically and dramatically- , The Guardian
Whisked the frothy original into a nimble 50- minute snapshot of modern life- , The Guardian
It’s great fun, and Turner’s updating gives a ring of truth to the potentially farcical story.- , The Stage
The ensemble is tight and pace lively- , The Stage
Small but perfectly formed production- , The Stage
Turner’s slick adaptation… is propelled by natural colloquialisms … and an enthusiastic and convincing cast- , The Stage
Die Fledermaus Arcola Theatre

David Horton as Eisenstein & James McOran-Campbell as Falke at Arcola Theatre

Highly innovative, and truly unlike anything else.- , The Basic Theatre Review
A delight to watch- , The Basic Theatre Review
The production features an immense level of inventiveness, creativity and ambition.- , The Basic Theatre Review
Die Fledermaus was quite unlike anything I have ever seen within my lifetime- , The Basic Theatre Review

 

Creative Team

Leo Geyer – Arranger/MD
Joanna Turner – Director & Librettist
Jack Weir Lighting Designer
Marina Hadjilouca – Designer
Lavinia Serban – Stage Manager
Cassidy Davis – ASM

Petros Kourtellaris Design Assistant

Singers

Claire Wild – Rosalinde
Abigail Kelly – Adele
David Horton – Eisenstein
James McOran-Campbell – Falke

Instrumentalists

Leo Geyer – Bassoon
Henry Rankin – Violin 
Ilona Suomalainen – Accordion

Brass Band:
Sian Collins
Derryck Nasib
Ben Day

 

Performance Dates

Date Time Location  
Thu 1st Aug  5pm COLLIERS WOOD
Starts at Savacentre / The Qube, SW19 1DD
 FREE
Fri 2nd Aug  11am POLLARDS HILL
Starts at New Horizon Centre cafe, CR4 1LT
 FREE
Sat 3rd Aug  1pm RAYNES PARK
Starts at Waitrose, Raynes Park, SW20 0BS
 FREE
Sat 3rd Aug  5pm WIMBLEDON
Starts at Elys, Wimbledon SW19 4DP
 FREE
Tue 6th Aug  8pm Arcola Theatre – Indoor Seated Version
24 Ashwin St, Dalston, London E8 3DL
SOLD OUT
Wed 7th Aug  8pm Arcola Theatre – Indoor Seated Version
24 Ashwin St, Dalston, London E8 3DL
SOLD OUT
Thu 8th Aug  5pm WANDSWORTH TOWN
Starts at Southside Shopping Centre, SW18 4TQ
 FREE
Fri 9th Aug  1pm MITCHAM
Starts at Morrisons, Mitcham, CR4 2JS
 FREE
Sat 10th Aug  1pm CLAPHAM JUNCTION
Starts at ASDA, 204 Lavender HIll, Battersea, SW11 1JG
 FREE
Sat 10th Aug  5pm WIMBLEDON VILLAGE
Starts at Bayley & Sage, 60 High Street, Wimbledon, SW19 5EE
 FREE
Tue 13th Aug  1pm MORDEN
Starts at Oxfam, 31 London Road, Morden, SM4 5HT
 FREE
Tue 13th Aug  5pm TOOTING BROADWAY
Starts at Tooting Market, Tooting High Street, SW17 0SN
 FREE
Wed 14th Aug  1pm ROEHAMPTON 
Starts at Roehampton Library, 2 Danebury, Ave, SW15 4HD
 FREE
Wed 14th Aug  5pm WIMBLEDON
Starts at Ground Floor, Elys, Wimbledon SW19 4DP
 FREE

 

Blog Posts on Die Fledermaus

 

Our Supporters for this production

 

Wimbledon Foundation